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Saving lives during Operation Impact

Posted: October 10, 2014 - 1:00 am

October 10-13 2014 will mark Operation Impact, a national campaign to make Canada's roads the safest in the world.

This special weekend is a police initiative designed to remind people that an essential part of the enforcement job is to save lives and reduce injuries on our roadways. Educating the public in safe driving practices is a priority. The focus will be on behaviours that put drivers, passengers and other road users most at risk: impaired driving, seat belt use, and all aspects related to aggressive and distracted driving. All enforcement agencies across the country have been invited to participate.

"The deaths, pain and broken hearts that result from carelessness behind the wheel can be prevented," says Sergeant Steve Calder officer in charge of the Integrated Traffic Unit. “Police agencies across the country are collaborating on this project because they have seen more than enough of that, and because they know that the involvement of the driving public is essential to achieve safer streets and highways."

This initiative has been strategically chosen, as it is a significant long weekend. More people are traveling and traffic crashes are more frequent.

In the last year in Halifax, there were ten deaths and a number of serious injuries related to vehicle collisions. These are just numbers but they represent moms, dads, sisters, brothers, loved ones, co-workers, neighbours. It is unacceptable to Halifax Regional Police and Halifax District RCMP. That is why, in support of Operation Impact, the Integrated Traffic Unit will set checkpoints throughout the weekend targeting aggressive and distracted drivers.

Operation Impact is sponsored by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and member agencies of the CACP Traffic Committee from across Canada in support of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015, which has a goal of making Canada's roads the safest in the world by 2015